Method for producing optically active amines

ABSTRACT

A process for preparing optically active amines, a process for preparing racemic amines which can be resolved using optically active carboxylic acids or enzymes, and racemic and optically active amines and optically active amides are described.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing optically active amines. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for preparing racemic amines which can be resolved using optically active carboxylic acids or enzymes. Moreover, the invention relates to racemic and optically active amines and optically active amides.

Racemate resolution of amines by enzyme-catalyzed reaction with esters, like the classical chemical racemate resolution via formation of diastereomeric salts using optically active carboxylic acids (Advanced Organic Chemistry, Reactions, Mechanisms and Structure, Jerry March, Fourth Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1992, ISBN 0-471-60180-2), is known. Thus, Kitaguchi et al. (J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 111 (1989), 3094–3095), for example, describes racemate resolution of amines using trifluoroethyl butyrate under subtilisin catalysis. However, the enantioselectivity of this reaction is highly solvent-dependent. Even when the most suitable of the solvents described (3-methyl-3-pentanol) is used, the selectivity achieved is only moderate.

WO 91/19002 describes a process for chiral enrichment of asymmetric primary amines where the amines are reacted with ethyl acetate or ethyl butyrate under subtilisin catalysis. However, the enantiomeric excesses achieved are unsatisfactory; moreover, long reaction times of from one to a number of weeks are required.

Gotor et al. (J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun. (1988), 957–958) describe the enantioselective acylation of 2-amino-butan-1-ol with ethyl acetate under catalysis with porcine pancreas lipase (PPL). Here, the ester used (ethyl acetate) also acts as solvent. If other solvents or other enzymes are used, the results are unsatisfactory.

Brieva et al. (J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun. (1990), 1386–1387) describe the enantioselective synthesis of amides from racemic primary amines by reaction with 2-chloropropionate under subtilisin catalysis in hexane or Candida cylindracea lipase catalysis in 3-methyl-3-pentanol.

Quiros et al. (Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 4 (1993), 1105–1112) describe the lipase-catalyzed synthesis of optically active amides from racemic α-halo-substituted ethyl propionates and primary amines. However, the enantioselectivity achieved in this reaction is unsatisfactory.

Asensio et al. (Tetrahedron Letters 32 (1991), 4197–4198) describe the lipase-catalyzed enantioselective acylation of secondary amines. However, this reaction is enantioselective only for one amine, and even there with only moderate results. Other amines are not enantioselective at all.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,607 describes the N-acylation of 3-amidoazetdinone [sic] compounds with the aid of penicillin G amidase. However, penicillin G amidase has a very limited substrate range, so that it can only be used for preparing β-lactams.

WO 95/08636 describes a process for racemate resolution of primary and secondary amines by enzyme-catalyzed acylation. Other publications describing processes for enzyme-catalyzed racemate resolution of amines are, for example, WO 96/23894, WO 97/20946, WO 97/2871, WO 97/46698 and WO 98/03465.

The publications mentioned above describe various methods for racemate resolution of amines. In addition to the actual product of value, in each racemate resolution 50% of the unwanted enantiomer are formed. For an economical utilization of these processes it is important that this unwanted enantiomer can be racemized and recycled into the racemate resolution process, or else that this initially unwanted enantiomer is likewise a compound in demand for chemical syntheses and accordingly a product of value. In the enzymatic racemate resolution, one of the enantiomers is obtained in the form of the amide. If this amide is the product of value, it has to be cleaved with the stereocenter being retained. Such a process for cleaving optically active amides while retaining the stereocenter is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,167.

The provision of the racemic aminoalcohol which is used as starting material for the racemate resolution continues to be an essential problem for the industrial racemate resolution of optically active functionalized amines, such as aminoalcohols. For an economical process, a simple, safe and inexpensive synthetic route to the racemic functionalized amine is required. Murata et al. (J. Chem. Soc. Jpn., Ind. Chem. Sect. 56 (1953): 628, Chem. Abstr. 49 (1955), 7517 g) describe a process for preparing 1-benzyloxy-3-butanone from 3-buten-2-one using 3 equivalents of benzyl alcohol and 0.04 mol % of Na methoxide. This method has the disadvantage that the excess benzyl alcohol has to be removed in an additional process step. Moreover, when carrying out the process, the product is frequently cleaved again into the starting materials, i.e. the consistency required for an industrial process is missing.

The prior-art processes for racemate resolution and the synthesis of the racemic functionalized amines have the disadvantage that they lack the simplicity and consistency required for industrial utilization and that, accordingly, they can only be carried out under highly specific conditions. Moreover, they require considerable amounts of starting materials for the synthesis of the racemic educt, making a process based thereon uneconomical.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a process for synthesizing racemic functionalized amines, such as amino alcohols, and a process based thereon for the racemate resolution of the racemic amines which ensures high consistency and high enantioselectivity in the racemate resolution and can be used in a wide range of reaction conditions, using relatively low amounts of starting material and catalyst, thus lowering the costs of the overall process even further.

We have found that this object is achieved by a process for preparing compounds of the formula I

which comprises the following process steps:

-   -   a) A reaction of compounds of the formula II

with compounds of the formula R²—XH (III) in the presence of a base to give compounds of the formula IV

-   -   b) A reaction of the reaction solution of compounds of the         formula IV with a compound of the formula NH₂R³ (V) to give         compounds of the formula VI

-   -   c) A hydrogenation of compounds of the formula VI in the         presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to give compounds of the         formula VII

-   -   d) A resolution of a racemate of compounds of the formula VII         using an optically active carboxylic acid or esters of the         formula VIII

-   -   in the presence of a lipase or esterase, giving compounds of the         formula I where the substituents and variables in the formulae         I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII and VIII are as defined below:     -   R¹ is substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched         C₁–C₁₀-alkyl, C₂–C₁₀-alkenyl, C₂–C₁₀-alkynyl, arylalkyl, aryl,         hetarylalkyl or hetaryl,     -   R² is substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched         C₁–C₁₀-alkyl, C₃–C₁₀-alkenyl, C₃–C₁₀-alkynyl, arylalkyl, aryl,         hetarylalkyl or hetaryl,     -   R³ is hydrogen, hydroxyl, substituted or unsubstituted, branched         or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl, C₃–C₁₀-alkenyl or C₃–C₁₀-alkynyl,     -   R⁴ is substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched         C₁–C₁₀-alkyl,     -   R⁵ is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted, branched or         unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl,     -   R⁶ is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted, branched or         unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl or substituted or unsubstituted phenyl,     -   X=oxygen or nitrogen, preferably nitrogen     -   n=0 or 1.

In the compounds of the formulae I, II, IV, VI, VII and IX, R¹ is substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl, C₂–C₁₀-alkenyl, C₂–C₁₀-alkinyl, arylalkyl, aryl, hetarylalkyl or hetaryl. Preferred radicals of R¹ are substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl or aryl.

Alkyl radicals which may be mentioned are substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl chains, such as, for example, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, 1-methylethyl, n-butyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, n-pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, n-hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl or n-decyl. Preferred radicals are methyl, ethyl or propyl.

Alkenyl radicals which may be mentioned are branched or unbranched C₂–C₁₀-alkenyl chains, such as, for example, ethenyl, propenyl, 1-butenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, 2-methylpropenyl, 1-pentenyl, 2-pentenyl, 3-pentenyl, 4-pentenyl, 1-methyl-1-butenyl, 2-methyl-1-butenyl, 3-methyl-1-butenyl, 1-methyl-2-butenyl, 2-methyl-2-butenyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl, 1-methyl-3-butenyl, 2-methyl-3-butenyl, 3-methyl-3-butenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-1-propenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-1-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-propenyl, 1-hexenyl, 2-hexenyl, 3-hexenyl, 4-hexenyl, 5-hexenyl, 1-methyl-1-pentenyl, 2-methyl-1-pentenyl, 3-methyl-1-pentenyl, 4-methyl-1-pentenyl, 1-methyl-2-pentenyl, 2-methyl-2-pentenyl, 3-methyl-2-pentenyl, 4-methyl-2-pentenyl, 1-methyl-3-pentenyl, 2-methyl-3-pentenyl, 3-methyl-3-pentenyl, 4-methyl-3-pentenyl, 1-methyl-4-pentenyl, 2-methyl-4-pentenyl, 3-methyl-4-pentenyl, 4-methyl-4-pentenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 2,2-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 3,3-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 3,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1-ethyl-1-butenyl, 1-ethyl-2-butenyl, 1-ethyl-3-butenyl, 2-ethyl-1-butenyl, 2-ethyl-2-butenyl, 2-ethyl-3-butenyl, 1,1,2-trimethyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-1-methyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-methyl-1-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-methyl-2-propenyl, 1-heptenyl, 2-heptenyl, 3-heptenyl, 4-heptenyl, 5-heptenyl, 6-heptenyl, 1-octenyl, 2-octenyl, 3-octenyl, 4-octenyl, 5-octenyl, 6-octenyl, 7-octenyl, nonenyl or decenyl.

Alkynyl radicals which may be mentioned are branched or unbranched C₂–C₁₀-alkynyl chains, such as, for example, ethynyl, prop-1-yn-1-yl, prop-2-yn-1-yl, n-but-1-yn-1-yl, n-but-1-yn-3-yl, n-but-1-yn-4-yl, n-but-2-yn-1-yl, n-pent-1-yn-1-yl, n-pent-1-yn-3-yl, n-pent-1-yn-4-yl, n-pent-1-yn-5-yl, n-pent-2-yn-1-yl, n-pent-2-yn-4-yl, n-pent-2-yn-5-yl, 3-methyl-but-1-yn-3-yl, 3-methyl-but-1-yn-4-yl, n-hex-1-yn-1-yl, n-hex-1-yn-3-yl, n-hex-1-yn-4-yl, n-hex-1-yn-5-yl, n-hex-1-yn-6-yl, n-hex-2-yn-1-yl, n-hex-2-yn-4-yl, n-hex-2-yn-5-yl, n-hex-2-yn-6-yl, n-hex-3-yn-1-yl, n-hex-3-yn-2-yl, 3-methylpent-1-yn-1-yl, 3-methylpent-1-yn-3-yl, 3-methylpent-1-yn-4-yl, 3-methylpent-1-yn-5-yl, 4-methylpent-1-yn-1-yl, 4-methylpent-2-yn-4-yl or 4-methylpent-2-yn-5-yl.

Advantageously, the multiple bond of the alkenyl or alkynyl radicals should not be in the position alpha to the carbonylcarbon since this would have an adverse effect on the selectivity of the reaction [process step (a)] and may necessitate a purification of the reaction products. In this case, the selectivity can be influenced positively by electron-donating and/or bulky radicals, such as tert-butyl.

Suitable substituents of the abovementioned radicals of R¹ are, in principle, all feasible substituents except for ketones or aldehydes, for example one or more substituents such as halogen, for example fluorine, amino, hydroxyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkoxy, benzyloxy, phenyl or benzyl.

Arylalkyl radicals which may be mentioned are branched or straight-chain phenyl-(C₁–C₅-alkyl) or naphthyl-(C₁–C₅-alkyl) radicals, such as phenylmethyl, phenylethyl, phenylpropyl, phenyl-1-methylethyl, phenylbutyl, phenyl-1-methylpropyl, phenyl-2-methylpropyl, phenyl-1,1-dimethylethyl, phenylpentyl, phenyl-1-methylbutyl, phenyl-2-methylbutyl, phenyl-3-methylbutyl, phenyl-2,2-dimethylpropyl, phenyl-1-ethylpropyl, naphthylmethyl, naphthylethyl, naphthylpropyl, naphthyl-1-methylethyl, naphthylbutyl, naphthyl-1-methylpropyl, naphthyl-2-methylpropyl, naphthyl-1,1-dimethylethyl, naphthylpentyl, naphthyl-1-methylbutyl, naphthyl-2-methylbutyl, naphthyl-3-methylbutyl, naphthyl-2,2-dimethylpropyl, or naphthyl-1-ethylpropyl, and their isomeric or stereoisomeric forms. Preferred radicals are branched or straight-chain phenyl-(C₁–C₅-alkyl) radicals, such as phenylmethyl, phenylethyl or phenylpropyl.

Aryl radicals which may be mentioned are, for example, phenyl, methoxyphenyl or naphthyl, or aromatic rings or ring systems having 6 to 18 carbon atoms in the ring system and up to 24 other carbon atoms which may form other non-aromatic rings or ring systems having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, which may be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more radicals, such as halogen, for example fluorine, amino, hydroxyl, alkyl, alkoxy or other radicals. Preference is given to unsubstituted or substituted phenyl, methoxyphenyl or naphthyl.

Hetaryl(alkyl) radicals which may be mentioned are, for example, hetarylalkyl radicals which contain one or more nitrogen, sulfur and/or oxygen atoms in the ring or ring system and are attached to a branched or unbranched C₁–C₅-alkylene chain, such as methylene, ethylene, n-propylene, 1-methylethylene, n-butylene, 1-methylpropylene, 2-methylpropylene, 1,1-dimethylethylene, n-pentylene, 1-methylbutylene, 2-methylbutylene, 3-methylbutylene, 2,2-dimethylpropylene or 1-ethylpropylene.

Hetaryl radicals which may be mentioned are simple or fused aromatic ring systems having one or more heteroaromatic 3- to 7-membered rings which may contain one or more heteroatoms, such as N, O and S, and which may be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more radicals, such as halogen, for example fluorine, amino, hydroxyl, thio, alkyl, alkoxy or other aromatic or other saturated or unsaturated non-aromatic rings or ring systems.

In the compounds of the formulae I, III, IV, VI, VII and IX, R² is substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl, C₂–C₁₀-alkenyl, C₂–C₁₀-alkynyl, arylalkyl, aryl, hetarylalkyl or hetaryl. Preferred radicals of R¹ are substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl or arylalkyl.

Alkyl radicals which may be mentioned are substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl chains, such as, for example, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, 1-methylethyl, n-butyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, n-hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl or n-decyl. Preferred radicals are methyl, ethyl or propyl.

Alkenyl radicals which may be mentioned are branched or unbranched C₃–C₁₀-alkenyl chains, such as, for example, 2-propenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, 2-methylpropenyl, 2-pentenyl, 3-pentenyl, 4-pentenyl, 1-methyl-2-butenyl, 2-methyl-2-butenyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl, 1-methyl-3-butenyl, 2-methyl-3-butenyl, 3-methyl-3-butenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-propenyl, 2-hexenyl, 3-hexenyl, 4-hexenyl, 5-hexenyl, 1-methyl-2-pentenyl, 2-methyl-2-pentenyl, 3-methyl-2-pentenyl, 4-methyl-2-pentenyl, 1-methyl-3-pentenyl, 2-methyl-3-pentenyl, 3-methyl-3-pentenyl, 4-methyl-3-pentenyl, 1-methyl-4-pentenyl, 2-methyl-4-pentenyl, 3-methyl-4-pentenyl, 4-methyl-4-pentenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 2,2-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 3,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1-ethyl-2-butenyl, 1-ethyl-3-butenyl, 2-ethyl-2-butenyl, 2-ethyl-3-butenyl, 1,1,2-trimethyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-1-methyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-methyl-2-propenyl, 2-heptenyl, 3-heptenyl, 4-heptenyl, 5-heptenyl, 6-heptenyl, 2-octenyl, 3-octenyl, 4-octenyl, 5-octenyl, 6-octenyl, 7-octenyl, nonenyl or decenyl. Preferred radicals are 2-propenyl or 2-butenyl.

Alkynyl radicals which may be mentioned are branched or unbranched C₃–C₁₀-alkynyl chains, such as, for example, prop-2-yn-1-yl, n-but-1-yn-3-yl, n-but-1-yn-4-yl, n-pent-1-yn-3-yl, n-pent-1-yn-4-yl, n-pent-1-yn-5-yl, n-pent-2-yn-1-yl, n-pent-2-yn-4-yl, n-pent-2-yn-5-yl, 3-methyl-but-1-yn-3-yl, 3-methyl-but-1-yn-4-yl, n-hex-1-yn-3-yl, n-hex-1-yn-4-yl, n-hex-1-yn-5-yl, n-hex-1-yn-6-yl, n-hex-2-yn-1-yl, n-hex-2-yn-4-yl, n-hex-2-yn-5-yl, n-hex-2-yn-6-yl, n-hex-3-yn-1-yl, n-hex-3-yn-2-yl, 3-methylpent-1-yn-3-yl, 3-methylpent-1-yn-4-yl, 3-methylpent-1-yn-5-yl, 4-methylpent-2-yn-4-yl or 4-methylpent-2-yn-5-yl. The preferred radical is prop-2-yn-1-yl.

Suitable substituents of the abovementioned radicals of R² are, in principle, all feasible substituents, for example one or more substituents such as halogen, for example fluorine, amino, hydroxyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkoxy, benzyloxy, phenyl or benzyl.

Arylalkyl radicals which may be mentioned are branched or straight-chain phenyl-(C₁–C₅-alkyl) or naphthyl-(C₁–C₅-alkyl) radicals, such as phenylmethyl, phenylethyl, phenylpropyl, phenyl-1-methylethyl, phenylbutyl, phenyl-1-methylpropyl, phenyl-2-methylpropyl, phenyl-1,1-dimethylethyl, phenylpentyl, phenyl-1-methylbutyl, phenyl-2-methylbutyl, phenyl-3-methylbutyl, phenyl-2,2-dimethylpropyl, phenyl-1-ethylpropyl, naphthylmethyl, naphthylethyl, naphthylpropyl, naphthyl-1-methylethyl, naphthylbutyl, naphthyl-1-methylpropyl, naphthyl-2-methylpropyl, naphthyl-1,1-dimethylethyl, naphthylpentyl, naphthyl-1-methylbutyl, naphthyl-2-methylbutyl, naphthyl-3-methylbutyl, naphthyl-2,2-dimethylpropyl, or naphthyl-1-ethylpropyl, and their isomeric or stereoisomeric forms. Preferred radicals are phenylmethyl, phenylethyl or naphthylmethyl.

Aryl radicals which may be mentioned are, for example, phenyl, methoxyphenyl or naphthyl, or aromatic rings or ring systems having 6 to 18 carbon atoms in the ring system and up to 24 other carbon atoms which may form other non-aromatic rings or ring systems having 3 to 8 carbon atoms in the ring, which may be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more radicals, such as halogen, for example fluorine, amino, hydroxyl, alkyl, alkoxy or other radicals. Preference is given to unsubstituted or substituted phenyl, methoxyphenyl or naphthyl.

Hetaryl(alkyl) radicals which may be mentioned are, for example, hetarylalkyl radicals which contain one or more nitrogen, sulfur and/or oxygen atoms in the ring or ring system and are attached to a branched or unbranched C₁–C₅-alkylene chain, such as methylene, ethylene, n-propylene, 1-methylethylene, n-butylene, 1-methylpropylene, 2-methylpropylene, 1,1-dimethylethylene, n-pentylene, 1-methylbutylene, 2-methylbutylene, 3-methylbutylene, 2,2-dimethylpropylene or 1-ethylpropylene.

Hetaryl radicals which may be mentioned are simple or fused aromatic ring systems having one or more heteroaromatic 3- to 7-membered rings which may contain one or more heteroatoms, such as N, O and S, and which may be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more radicals, such as halogen, for example fluorine, amino, hydroxyl, thio, alkyl, alkoxy or other aromatic or other saturated or unsaturated non-aromatic rings or ring systems.

In the compounds of the formulae I, V, VI, VII and IX, R³ is hydrogen, hydroxyl, substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl, C₃–C₁₀-alkenyl or C₃–C₁₀-alkynyl. Preferred radicals are hydrogen or hydroxyl.

Alkyl radicals which may be mentioned are substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl chains, such as, for example, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, 1-methylethyl, n-butyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, n-pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, n-hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl or n-decyl. Preferred radicals are methyl, ethyl or propyl.

Alkenyl radicals which may be mentioned are branched and unbranched C₃–C₁₀-alkenyl chains, such as, for example, propenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, 2-methylpropenyl, 2-pentenyl, 3-pentenyl, 4-pentenyl, 1-methyl-2-butenyl, 2-methyl-2-butenyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl, 1-methyl-3-butenyl, 2-methyl-3-butenyl, 3-methyl-3-butenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-propenyl, 2-hexenyl, 3-hexenyl, 4-hexenyl, 5-hexenyl, 1-methyl-2-pentenyl, 2-methyl-2-pentenyl, 3-methyl-2-pentenyl, 4-methyl-2-pentenyl, 1-methyl-3-pentenyl, 2-methyl-3-pentenyl, 3-methyl-3-pentenyl, 4-methyl-3-pentenyl, 1-methyl-4-pentenyl, 2-methyl-4-pentenyl, 3-methyl-4-pentenyl, 4-methyl-4-pentenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 2,2-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 3,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1-ethyl-2-butenyl, 1-ethyl-3-butenyl, 2-ethyl-2-butenyl, 2-ethyl-3-butenyl, 1,1,2-trimethyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-1-methyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-methyl-2-propenyl, 2-heptenyl, 3-heptenyl, 4-heptenyl, 5-heptenyl, 6-heptenyl, 2-octenyl, 3-octenyl, 4-octenyl, 5-octenyl, 6-octenyl, 7-octenyl, nonenyl or decenyl.

Alkynyl radicals which may be mentioned are branched or unbranched C₃–C₁₀-alkynyl chains, such as, for example, prop-2-yn-1-yl, n-but-1-yn-3-yl, n-but-1-yn-4-yl, n-but-2-yn-1-yl, n-pent-1-yn-3-yl n-pent-1-yn-4-yl, n-pent-1-yn-5-yl, n-pent-2-yn-1-yl, n-pent-2-yn-4-yl, n-pent-2-yn-5-yl, 3-methyl-but-1-yn-3-yl, 3-methyl-but-1-yn-4-yl, n-hex-1-yn-3-yl, n-hex-1-yn-4-yl, n-hex-1-yn-5-yl, n-hex-1-yn-6-yl, n-hex-2-yn-1-yl, n-hex-2-yn-4-yl, n-hex-2-yn-5-yl, n-hex-2-yn-6-yl, n-hex-3-yn-1-yl, n-hex-3-yn-2-yl, 3-methylpent-1-yn-3-yl, 3-methylpent-1-yn-4-yl, 3-methylpent-1-yn-5-yl, 4-methylpent-2-yn-4-yl or 4-methylpent-2-yn-5-yl.

Suitable substituents of the abovementioned radicals of R³ are, in principle, all feasible substituents, for example one or more substituents such as halogen, for example fluorine, amino, hydroxy, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkoxy, benzyloxy, phenyl or benzyl.

In the compounds of the formula VIII, R⁴ is substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl.

Alkyl radicals which may be mentioned are substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl chains, such as, for example, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, 1-methylethyl, n-butyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, n-pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, n-hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl or n-decyl. Preferred radicals are methyl, ethyl, 1-methylethyl, propyl, butyl or pentyl.

Suitable substituents of the abovementioned radicals of R⁴ are, in principle, all feasible substituents, for example one or more substituents such as halogen, for example fluorine, chlorine or bromine, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkoxy, benzyloxy, phenyl or benzyl. Preferred substituents are halogen, such as chlorine or bromine, cyano, benzyloxy, C₁–C₄-alkyl or hydroxyl.

In the compounds of the formulae VIII and IX, R⁵ is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl.

Alkyl radicals which may be mentioned are substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl chains, such as, for example, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, 1-methylethyl, n-butyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, n-pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, n-hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl or n-decyl. Preferred radicals are hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or propyl.

Suitable substituents of the abovementioned radicals of R⁵ are, in principle, all feasible substituents, for example one or more substituents such as halogen, for example fluorine, chlorine or bromine, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkoxy, benzyloxy, phenyl or benzyl.

In the compounds of the formulae VIII and IX, R⁶ is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl or substituted or unsubstituted phenyl.

Alkyl radicals which may be mentioned are substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl chains, such as, for example, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, 1-methylethyl, n-butyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, n-pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, n-hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl or n-decyl. Preferred radicals are methyl, ethyl or propyl.

Suitable substituents of the abovementioned radicals of R⁶ are, in principle, all feasible substituents, for example one or more substituents such as halogen, for example fluorine, chlorine or bromine, cyano, nitro, amino, hydroxyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkoxy, benzyloxy, phenyl or benzyl.

The invention furthermore relates to a process for preparing compounds of the formula VII

which comprises the following process steps:

a) A reaction of compounds of the formula II

with compounds of the formula R²—XH (III) in the presence of a base to give compounds of the formula IV

-   -   b) A reaction of the reaction solution of compounds of the         formula IV with a compound of the formula NH₂R³ (V) to give         compounds of the formula VI

-   -   c) A hydrogenation of compounds of the formula VI in the         presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to give compounds of the         formula VII, where the substituents and variables in the         formulae II, III, IV, V, VI and VII are as defined in claim 1.

For clarity, scheme I shows the processes according to the invention in an exemplary manner. Process steps (a) to (d) correspond to the process for preparing functionalized optically active amines, for example optically active aminoalcohols or optically active diamines. The process steps (a) to (c) correspond to the process for preparing functionalized racemic amines which can subsequently be subjected to racemate resolution. In scheme I, this racemate resolution is shown using the example of enzymatic racemate resolution. However, it can also be carried out using other processes for racemate resolution, such as the classical chemical racemate resolution via diastereomeric salts, or via chromatographic processes. The variables and substituents used in scheme I are as defined above. The scheme furthermore shows the optional possibility of neutralizing the reaction solution obtained in step (a) prior to the reaction with compounds of the structure or formula NH₂R³ (V). If the compounds of the formula R²—XH (III) are employed in a large excess, based on the reaction partner (II), it is necessary to neutralize the reaction solution prior to further reaction, since otherwise an undesirable cleavage of the reaction product into the starting materials occurs when the excess compound R²—XH is removed. This cleavage results in a loss of yield, and the product has to be purified. If the advantageous amount, according to the invention, of the compound (III) of from 0.5 to 2.5 equivalents, preferably from 0.5 to 2.0; particularly preferably from 0.7 to 1.5; very particularly preferably from 0.9 to 1.1 equivalents, based on the reaction partner (II), is employed, it is not necessary to reduce the amount of excess R²—XH, and neutralization of the reaction solution prior to the reaction step b is advantageously not necessary in the processes according to the invention. However, depending on the starting materials, neutralization may advantageously be carried out to increase the consistency of the process. Acids suitable for the neutralization are all customary mineral acids, such as HCl, H₂SO₄ or H₃PO₄, or organic acids, such as lower aliphatic carboxylic acids, for example formic acid. Preference is given to using orthophosphoric acid.

Suitable bases for process step (a) of the process according to the invention are, in principle, all bases which can catalyze the addition of the compound (III) to the Michael system of the compound (II), such as NaOH, KOH, tertiary amines or alkali metal alkoxides or alkaline earth metal alkoxides. Bases which may be mentioned as being advantageous are alkali metal alkoxides and alkaline earth metal alkoxides, such as sodium methoxide, sodium ethoxide, sodium butoxide, sodium tert-butoxide, potassium tert-butoxide, or strong basic amines, such as diazabicycloundecene. As catalyst, the base is advantageously employed in a concentration of from 0.001 to 10 mol %, preferably from 0.01 to 5 mol %, particularly preferably from 0.3 to 0.5 mol %, based on the compound (III) used.

Process step (a) of the processes according to the invention can be carried out in the presence of an aprotic solvent which is inert under the reaction conditions. Examples of suitable solvents are hydrocarbons, such as hexane, cyclohexane, benzene or toluene, or ethers, such as methyl tert-butyl ether (=MTBE), diethyl ether, dibutyl ether or tetrahydrofuran (=THF). The reaction is advantageously carried out in the absence of a solvent.

The reaction [process step (a)] is advantageously carried out at from −30 to +50° C., preferably from −5 to +10° C.

Advantageous compounds of the formula (V) are, in addition to ammonia, primary and secondary aliphatic amines and hydroxylamine. Process step (b) is advantageously carried out using hydroxylamine, which is employed as aqueous solution, or as an aqueous solution of its salt, such as, for example, hydroxylamine hydrochloride, hydroxylamine sulfate, if appropriate, as for the other compounds of the formula (V), in the presence of a base, such as aqueous sodium hydroxide solution or sodium acetate. Preference is given to using an aqueous solution of the free hydroxylamine. The reaction can advantageously be carried out in an inert protic solvent, such as water or an alcohol, for example methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol or isobutanol. The reaction is preferably carried out in water.

The reaction [process step (b)] is advantageously carried out at from 0 to +1001° C., preferably from 20 to 40° C.

The hydrogenation in the processes according to the invention [process step (c)] can be carried out using all customary hydrogenation catalysts based, for example, on Ni, Co, Hg, Pt, Pd, Ru or Rh. One of the catalysts customarily used for homogeneous catalysis is, for example, Wilkinson's catalyst. The hydrogenation can be carried out under heterogeneous or homogeneous catalysis. For economical reasons and because it is readily available, the preferred catalyst is Raney nickel. The hydrogenation is advantageously carried out in a solvent which is inert under the reaction conditions. Such solvents are, for example, hydrocarbons, such as hexane, cyclohexane, benzene or toluene, ethers, such as MTBE, diethyl ether, dibutyl ether or THF, or alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol or iso-butanol. Preferred solvents are THF or methanol.

The reaction [process step (c)] is advantageously carried out at from 0 to +150° C., preferably from 50 to 100° C. The hydrogenation is usually carried out in a pressure range of from atmospheric pressure to 300 bar. The reaction is preferably carried out at a pressure of from 50 to 150 bar.

As described above, the racemate resolution can be carried out via enzymatic or classical chemical racemate resolution, including the use of chromatographic methods. The racemate resolution is preferably carried out with the aid of enzymes or diastereomeric salts, particularly preferably using enzymes.

For the separation via diastereomeric salts, all optically active carboxylic acids are suitable in principle. Advantageous optically active carboxylic acids are tartaric acid, dibenzoyltartaric acid, mandelic acid, camphoric acid, camphorsulfonic acid, p-hydroxymandelic acid, p-Cl-mandelic acid, phenoxypropionic acid, p-hydroxyphenoxypropionic acid or lactic acid. Preference is given to using mandelic acid for the racemate resolution. The salt formation can be carried out in an inert solvent, such as a hydrocarbon, for example hexane, cyclohexane, benzene or toluene; or an ether, for example MTBE, diethyl ether, dibutyl ether or THF; or an alcohol, for example methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol or isobutanol. For recrystallization, it is advantageous to employ an alcohol, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol or isobutanol. Preference is given to using isopropanol. To improve crystallization, the solution can be cooled. If the salt formed precipitates spontaneously, it is redissolved by heating and slowly recrystallized with cooling. If required, the crystallization can be carried out a number of times.

The racemate resolution of the functionalized amines can advantageously also be carried out via enzymes such as esterases or lipases.

Esterases and lipases which are suitable for the process according to the invention are, in principle, all lipases and esterases available from plants, animals or microorganisms. It is advantageous to use microbial lipases which can be isolated, for example, from eucaryotic organisms, such as fungi or yeasts, or procaryotic organisms, such as bacteria. Bacterial lipases from the genera Bacillus or Pseudomonas, for example Amano P or the lipase from Pseudomonas spec. DSM 8246, or lipases from fungi such as Aspergillus or from yeasts such as Candida or Yerrowia, are particularly suitable. Further advantageous lipases are, for example, the enzymes which are commercially available from Novo Nordisk, in particular the lipases SP 523, SP 524, SP 525, SP 526 and Novozym® 8435, which are obtained from yeasts, such as Candida antarctica. Other examples are the lipases Chirazyme L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7 and L8 which are commercially available from Roche Molecular Biochemicals (Roche Diagnostic GmbH, Penzberg).

The lipases can be employed in native or immobilized form. The immobilized lipases can be microencapsulated, emulsified with prepolymers and polymerized, crosslinked with bifunctional substances (oligomers, aldehydes etc.) or attached to inorganic or organic carriers, such as, for example, Celite, Lewatit, zeolites, polysaccharides, polyamides or polystyrene resins. Particular preference is given to the lipases Novozym® 435 and Chirazyme L2.

The reaction with the esterases or lipases is generally carried out under atmospheric pressure, if appropriate under inert gas, such as nitrogen or argon. However, it can also be carried out under elevated pressure.

The temperature for the reaction of the racemic amines of the formula VII with the esters suitable for the racemate resolution, which carry an oxygen atom in the position alpha to the carbonyl carbon, specifically the esters of the formula VIII

is usually from 0 to 90° C., preferably from 10 to 60° C., particularly preferably from 20 to 50° C. The substituents of the preferred esters VIII are as defined above.

The reaction of the ester with the racemic functionalized amine, i.e. the corresponding aminoalcohol or diamine, under enzyme catalysis is usually carried out at room temperature. Depending on the substrate, the reaction times are from 1 to 48 hours. Secondary aminoalcohols or diamines generally require longer reaction times than primary aminoalcohols or diamines. The lower reactivity of secondary amines can also be compensated by an increased amount of catalyst, compared to primary amines.

From 0.5 to 2.0 mol, preferably from 0.5 to 1 mol, of ester are employed per mole of racemic amine. The amount of enzyme required depends on the activity of the enzyme preparation and the reactivity of the amine and can easily be determined by preliminary experiments. In general, from 0.1 to 10% by weight, preferably from 1 to 5% by weight, of the immobilized enzyme preparation (based on the racemic amine) are employed. Novozym® 435 has an activity of about 7000 PL U/g –10,000 PL U/g (PL=propyl laurate units, the units are based on the substrate propyl laurate).

The amount of enzyme that has to be added depends on the type of enzyme and the activity of the enzyme preparation. The optimum amount of enzyme for the reaction can easily be determined by simple preliminary experiments.

The course of the reaction can easily be monitored by customary methods, such as gas chromatography or high pressure liquid chromatography. If the desired conversion, generally 50%, has been achieved, the reaction is terminated, preferably by removing the catalyst, for example by filtering off the (supported) enzyme. The reaction can also be terminated, for example, by addition of enzyme-destroying substances, such as acids or bases, or by heating. If the reaction is carried out continuously, the conversion can be controlled by the enzyme load, i.e. the amount of amine which is pumped through the enzyme reactor per time unit. The process can preferably be carried out continuously, but also batch-wise or semi-continuously.

The enzyme-catalyzed racemate resolution can be carried out in protic or aprotic solvents or else without addition of solvents. Suitable solvents are, for example, hydrocarbons such as hexane, cyclohexane or toluene, ethers, such as, for example, diethyl ether, dioxane, methyl tert-butyl ether, tert-amyl methyl ether or THF, nitrites, such as acetonitrile, butyronitrile, alcohols, such as tert-butanol, 3-methyl-3-pentanol, and halogenated hydrocarbons, such as, for example, methylene chloride.

The reaction proceeds particularly well when the solvents and starting materials are as anhydrous as possible. For the racemate resolution, the solvents and starting materials amine and ester are advantageously dried. In principle this can be carried out in any manner known to the person skilled in the art, for example by azeotropic drying or by using drying agents, such as sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, KOH, phosphorus pentoxide, molecular sieves, silica gel or alumina.

After the enzyme-catalyzed racemate resolution has ended, a mixture of the acylated amine enantiomer of the formula IX

the unreacted amine enantiomer, the alcohol released from the ester during acylation and possibly excess ester is present. Suitable for separating this mixture are, in particular, distillative and extractive methods. Thus, low-boiling amines can be distilled off directly from the reaction mixture. The amide can subsequently be separated off distillatively or extractively from the alcohol and, if appropriate, the ester and can then be hydrolyzed in a customary manner, for example by boiling with aqueous sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide solution, with racemization or else without racemization (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,167). In columns 2 to 5 and in Example 2, U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,167 describes a method for cleaving amides with retention of the stereocenter. The second amine enantiomer formed in the hydrolysis can be isolated distillatively or extractively from the carboxylic acid, which is present as a salt. The isolation is preferably carried out by extraction, using, as extractant, ethers, such as diethyl ether, methyl tert-butyl ether and dibutyl ether, halogenated hydrocarbons, such as dichloromethane or trichloroethylene, or hydrocarbons, such as pentane, hexane, cyclohexane, benzene, toluene and xylene. A likewise preferred embodiment of the isolation of the amine is steam distillation. A particularly suitable embodiment of the invention comprises carrying out the cleavage at a temperature which is sufficiently high to distil over the resulting reaction product (amine) together with the steam, so that it is removed immediately from the reaction mixture, whereas the acid, which is dissociated under the alkaline conditions, remains in the flask. By the routes mentioned, it is, in principle, possible to work up amines in the processes according to the invention.

The resulting free amine can either be used as a further product of value for further syntheses or else advantageously be recycled after racemization into the process at the stage of process step (d). The amide cleaved directly with racemization can likewise advantageously be recycled into the process at this stage. In this manner, it is theoretically possible to convert the entire racemate into the desired enantiomer. Such racemizations can be carried out, for example, under the same conditions which are used for preparing amines from alcohols or ketones (“reductive amination”). The acid formed during the hydrolysis can, after acidification of the hydrolysis solution, be recovered, preferably extractively, and esterified by customary processes and recycled.

The processes according to the invention are advantageously suitable for preparing racemic aminoalcohols of the formula Ic and for resolving their racemate via enantioselective acylation

in which the substituents are as defined above.

The invention furthermore relates to compounds of the formula I, VII and IX:

in which the substituents and variables in the formulae I, VII and IX are as defined above. Preferred compounds of the formulae I, VII and IX are the following compounds:

The processes according to the invention are not only suitable as preparation processes for producing optically active primary and secondary functionalized amines, such as aminoalcohols or diamines, but they can also be a component of complicated chemical multi-step syntheses, for example in the preparation of drugs or crop protection agents.

The examples below serve to illustrate the invention.

EXAMPLES

At 0° C., 648 g (6.0 mol) of benzyl alcohol were admixed with 2.6 g (24 mmol) of potassium tert-butoxide, and the mixture was stirred for 30 minutes. Over a period of 30 minutes, 441 g (6.3 mol) of freshly distilled methyl vinyl ketone were added dropwise, the temperature being maintained at 0–10° C. by cooling. After the addition had ended, the mixture was stirred at 10° C. for another hour. 2.8 g (24 mmol) of orthophosphoric acid (as an 85% strength aqueous solution) were then added dropwise. The mixture was warmed to room temperature (=23° C.).

According to ¹H-NMR, 1-benzyloxy-3-butanone was formed in the reaction (¹H-NMR: δ=2.05 (s; 3H), 2.60 (t, J=7.0 Hz; 2H), 3.65 (t, J=7.0 Hz; 2H), 4.45 (s, 2H), 7.25 (m, 5H).

With vigorous stirring, 471 g of a 51.7% strength aqueous solution (7.37 mol) of hydroxylamine were added dropwise to the crude 1-benzyloxy-3-butanone such that the reaction temperature remained at about 35° C. The mixture was then stirred for another 15 hours. The next day, the upper, aqueous phase was separated off and the lower, organic phase was taken up in 500 ml of toluene and heated on a water separator until no more water distilled over. The solvent and volatile components were distilled off at 0.5 mm (bath temperature: 100° C.), giving as a residue 1100 g (95%) of 1-benzyloxy-3-butanoneoxime as E/Z mixture.

Main isomer (about 65%):

¹H-NMR: δ=1.90 (s; 3H), 2.50 (t, J=7.0 Hz; 2H), 3.65 (t, J=407.0 Hz; 2H), 4.50 (s, 2H), 7.30 (m, 5H), 9.30 (s, broad, 1H).

Minor isomer (about 35%):

¹H-NMR: δ=1.95 (s; 3H), 2.75 (t, J=7.0 Hz; 2H), 3.65 (t, J=457.0 Hz; 2H), 4.50 (s, 2H), 7.30 (m, 5H), 9.30 (s, broad, 1H).

In an autoclave, 100 g of Raney nickel were initially charged in 300 ml of THF, and the mixture was admixed with a solution of 850 g (4.4 mol) of 1-benzyloxy-3-butanoneoxime in 2.5 l of THF. The autoclave was pressurized with 100 bar of hydrogen and heated with stirring to 80° C. An exothermic reaction started and the pressure was kept constant by metered addition of hydrogen gas. After the hydrogen uptake had ended, the pressure was increased to 150 bar and stirring was continued for 4 hours. The autoclave was then cooled, the stirrer was switched off and the slightly turbid product solution was decanted off from the catalyst and filtered through kieselguhr. The clear filtrate was freed from the solvent using a rotary evaporator. The less volatile residue was subsequently subjected to fractional distillation under an oil pump vacuum. At 1.3 mm/85–87° C., the product rac-BOBA distils over as a clear liquid.

Yield: 646 g (83%)

¹H-NMR: δ=1.05 (d, J=7 Hz; 3H), 1.35 (s, broad; 2H), 1.65 (mc; 2H), 3.10 (mc; 1H), 3.55 (mc; 2H), 4.50 (s, 2H), 7.30 (m, 5H).

Example 3 Racemate resolution [process step (d)]

A. Enantiomer Analysis of BOBA:

Derivatization (scheme V):

0.5 g of amine was dissolved in 25 ml of diethyl ether. The solution was cooled to 0° C. and 0.2 ml of benzoyl chloride was added all at once. At room temperature, the mixture was stirred for 30 minutes and then admixed with 10 ml of water. The aqueous phase was separated off and the upper, organic phase was washed successively with 10 ml each of 10% strength hydrochloric acid, water and saturated sodium bicarbonate solution. The reaction solution was dried over sodium sulfate. 1 ml of the solution was then diluted with 5 ml of n-hexane and analyzed by HPLC chromatography.

-   -   Column: Chiralcel OD Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.     -   Temperature: room temperature     -   Detector: absorption at 214 nm     -   Amount injected: 20 μl     -   Mobile phase: n-hexane/isopropanol/ethanol (300:50:0.8 v/v/v)     -   Flow rate: 1.3 ml/min (at about 40 kg/cm²)

Retention times:

retention time: 8.7 min

retention time: 8.0 min

Example 4 Racemate Resolution by Crystallization

A solution of 2.15 g (35.6 mmol) of acetic acid and 5.4 g (35.6 mmol) of D-mandelic acid in 50 ml of isopropanol was added dropwise to a solution of 12.8 g (71.5 mmol) of rac-BOBA in 70 ml of isopropanol. The precipitated solid was redissolved by heating and then allowed to stand for recrystallization.

From a sample of the salt, which had been filtered off with suction, the bound amine was freed by treatment with aqueous sodium hydroxide solution.

According to HPLC analysis, the S-BOBA had an ee value of 50.5%. The precipitated salt was then recrystallized once more from 100 ml of isopropanol. The amine was then freed from the resulting salt by treatment with 10 ml of 50% strength sodium hydroxide solution and extracted with 50 ml of ether, and the extract was concentrated. This gave 2.2 g (34%) of S-BOBA. According to HPLC analysis, the enantiomeric purity was 90% ee.

Example 5 Racemate Resolution by Enzyme-Catalyzed Racemate Resolution

1500 g (8.43 mol) of rac-BOBA were cooled to 0° C. and admixed with 523 g (3.96 mol) of isopropyl methoxyacetate. 75 g of Novozym 435® were added, and the mixture was warmed with stirring to room temperature (about 23° C.). After 15 hours, the catalyst was filtered off and washed with 1 1 of toluene. The filtrate was freed from volatile components under reduced pressure (20 mbar) and then distilled in a thin-film evaporator (1.0 mbar, 180° C.). S-BOBA passed over as overhead distillate at (95–98° C.), R-BOBamide went into the distillation bottom as heavy boiler.

802.5 g (53%) of S-BOBA which, according to HPLC analysis, has an optical purity of 90% ee were obtained.

964 g (45.5%) of R-BOBamide (opt. purity: 98% ee) were obtained as bottom.

R-BOBamide, ¹H-NMR: δ=1.20 (d, J=7 Hz; 3H), 1.65–1.95 (mc; 2H), 3.15 (s; 3H), 3.50–3.70 (mc; 2H), 3.75 and 3.85 (AB system, J_(AB)=10.5 Hz; 2H), 4.20 (mc; 1H), 4.50 (s, 2H), 6.90 (s, broad; 1H), 7.10–7.40 (m, 5H).

Example 6 Cleavage of the R-BOBamide

At 120° C., a mixture of 918 g (3.66 mol) of R-BOBamide and 900 g of triethanolamine was admixed with 800 g (10 mol) of 50% strength sodium hydroxide solution, and the mixture was stirred at this temperature for 3 hours. After cooling, the mixture was diluted with 1.5 l of water and extracted three times with in each case 1 1 of diethyl ether. The combined extracts were washed successively with 1 1 of water and 100 ml of saturated NaCl solution, dried over Na₂SO₄ and then concentrated. This left a residue of 625 g (95%) of R-BOBA as a slightly yellow oil.

According to HPLC, the optical purity was 97% ee. 

1. A process for preparing compounds of the formula I

which comprises the following process steps: a) A reaction of compounds of the formula II

with compounds of the formula R²—XH (III) in the presence of a base to give compounds of the formula IV

b) A reaction of the reaction solution of compounds of the formula IV with a compound of the formula NH₂R³ (V) to give compounds of the formula VI

c) A hydrogenation of compounds of the formula VI in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to give compounds of the formula VII

d) A resolution of a racemate of compounds of the formula VII using an optically active carboxylic acid or esters of the formula VIII

in the presence of a lipase or esterase, giving compounds of the formula I where the substituents and variables in the formulae I, II, III, IV, V, VI VII and VIII are as defined below: R¹ is substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl, C₂–C₁₀-alkenyl, C₂–C₁₀-alkynyl, arylalkyl, aryl, hetarylalkyl or hetaryl, R² is substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl, C₃–C₁₀-alkenyl, C₃–C₁₀-alkynyl, arylalkyl, aryl, hetarylalkyl or hetaryl, R³ is hydrogen, hydroxyl, substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl, C₃–C₁₀-alkenyl or C₃–C₁₀-alkynyl, R⁴ is substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl, R⁵ is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl, R⁶ is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched C₁–C₁₀-alkyl or substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, X=oxygen or nitrogen, n=0 or
 1. 2. A process for preparing compounds of the formula VII

which comprises the following process steps: a) A reaction of compounds of the formula II

with compounds of the formula R²—XH(III) in the presence of a base to give compounds of the formula IV

b) A reaction of the reaction solution of compounds of the formula IV with a compound of the formula NH₂R³ (V) to give compounds of the formula VI

c) A hydrogenation of compounds of the formula VI in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to give compounds of the formula VII, where the substituents and variables in the formulae II, III, IV, V, VI and V are as in claim
 1. 3. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optically active carboxylic acid used for the resolution of the racemate is a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of tartaric acid, dibenzoyltartaric acid, mandelic acid, camphoric acid, camphorsulfonic acid, p-hydroxymandelic acid, p-Cl-mandelic acid, phenoxypropionic acid, p-hydroxyphenoxypropionic acid and lactic acid.
 4. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mixture, obtained in step 1(d) in the enzyme-catalyzed racemate resolution using an ester, of optically active heteroatom-substituted amine of the formula I and optically active heteroatom-substituted amide of the formula IX

is separated, where the substituents and variables in the formula IX are as defined in claim
 1. 5. A process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the amide is cleaved, giving the free amine.
 6. A process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the resulting amide is racemized under cleaving conditions and recycled into step (d) of the process as claimed in claim
 1. 7. A process as claimed in claim 5, wherein the resulting amine is racemized and recycled into step (d) of the process as claimed in claim
 1. 8. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein process step (a) is carried out in the presence of an aprotic solvent which is inert under the reaction conditions.
 9. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base in process step (a) is employed in a range from 0.001–10 mol %, based on the amount used of the compound of the formula III.
 10. A process as claimed in claim 9, wherein the base used in process step (a) is an alkali alkoxide or alkaline earth metal alkoxide or a strong basic amine.
 11. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reaction solution obtained in process step (a) is neutralized prior to the reaction with a compound of the formula (V).
 12. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compounds of the formulae IV, VI and VII are isolated after process steps (a) to (c) before the next process step is started.
 13. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compound of the formula NH₂R³ used is hydroxylamine.
 14. A process as claimed in claim 12, wherein process step (b) is carried out in the presence of a protic solvent which is inert under the reaction conditions.
 15. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydrogenation catalysts used in process step (c) are based on Ni, Co, Pt, Pd, Ru or Rh.
 16. A process as claimed in claim 14, wherein the hydrogenation catalyst used is Raney nickel.
 17. A process as claimed in claim 13, wherein the hydrogenation is carried out in a solvent.
 18. A process as claimed in claim 14, wherein the hydrogenation is carried out at from atmospheric pressure to 300 bar. 